US to keep antidumping duties on Chinese fiber

WASHINGTON - The United States determined Wednesday it would continue to slap antidumping duties against polyester staple fiber from China.

Revoking the current antidumping duty order on imports of Chinese polyester staple fiber would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time, said a ruling by the US International Trade Commission (ITC).

As a result of ITC's affirmative determination, the existing antidumping duties of 3.47 percent to 44.3 percent on imports of this product from China will remain in force.

The US move came under the five-year review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. The US Department of Commerce has to revoke an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

This is the first five-year review instituted in May by the US Commerce Department, which started to impose antidumping duties against Chinese polyester staple fiber from 2007.

This is the latest US trade protection move against China this year. With the US economy recovering at a slow pace, the protectionism moves by the world's largest economy are on the rise recently.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.